During what turned out to be his final inning of work before a demotion to Triple-A Reno, Diamondbacks right-hander Shelby Miller gave up a deep fly ball to left field off the bat of the Padres’ Yangervis Solarte.

Brandon Drury, a lifetime infielder who had never played a professional inning in the outfield prior to this year, drifted back before watching the ball bounce just short of the wall. It was not an easy play, but instead of escaping the inning unscathed, it cost Miller another run.

Corner outfielders costing their pitching staff extra bases has been an ongoing theme for the Diamondbacks this season. And, coincidentally, it’s been the absence of one of the players Miller was traded for that has seemed to hurt them the most.

A somewhat overlooked part of the Shelby Miller trade has been what the loss of outfielder Ender Inciarte has meant to the Diamondbacks’ outfield defense. Certainly, Inciarte’s absence has been felt given the injury to A.J. Pollock. But even if Pollock were healthy, Inciarte would be sorely missed.

In 2015, the Diamondbacks had 69 defensive runs saved, nearly 25 percent more than the next closest team in the major leagues. Inciarte alone was responsible for 29. It helps explain how the Diamondbacks pitching staff managed to post a 4.04 ERA last season.

A little past the midway point this year, the Diamondbacks have just eight defensive runs saved. While Chris Owings and Michael Bourn have helped offset the loss of Pollock – the Diamondbacks are second in runs saved in center field – the drop-off on the corners has been devastating.

The Diamondbacks are tied for seventh-worst in the majors with negative-5 runs saved in right field. In left field, they’re even worse: At negative-15, they’re dead last. They were a combined plus-19 on the corners in 2015.

Even though Inciarte has not swung the bat as well this season as he did last year, he remains one of the majors’ best defensive outfielders.

“It’s been an interesting change from last year in the terms of the quality of their defenders,” one National League talent evaluator said. “You take that many defensive runs off the board and talk about what that does to a team’s ERA? That’s 100 percent what just happened.”

Certainly, the absence of a solid defender in David Peralta for more than half the year has played a part. But so, too, has the lack of depth in the organization beyond Socrates Brito, who was slumping to start the year and is now out with a foot injury.

That shortage of competent outfielders has put pressure on a converted infielder like Drury, who can hardly be blamed for his defensive struggles, and on second-year outfielder Yasmany Tomas, whose signing is looking more and more like a costly mistake.

Tomas has shown flashes of delivering on his offensive potential – for days at a time, he has turned his impressive tools into massive production at the plate – but his inconsistent approach has held him back, particularly with runners on base.

The club had high hopes for Tomas’ defense this year (“Average is out the door,” first base/outfield coach Dave McKay said in spring training. “He’ll be much better than average”) but that hasn’t worked out, either. Defensive metrics still rate Tomas in the bottom quarter of major-league outfielders.

The signing of Tomas to a six-year, $68.5 million deal has led to a 1-2 punch of bad outcomes. First, the club parted ways with players who have been far more productive than him, including Inciarte and Mark Trumbo.

Second, the Diamondbacks have wound up playing Tomas regularly, which hasn’t helped their cause; among major-league outfielders with at least 700 plate appearances since the start of last season, Tomas ranks dead last with negative-1.9 Wins Above Replacement, per Baseball-Reference.

The Diamondbacks have pointed out that Tomas is still young (25) and relatively inexperienced, but if they were expecting him to take a while to develop, they shouldn’t have paid him like a big-league regular, nor should they have given him an opt-out after the fourth year of his deal.

For as unpredictable as some aspects of this disastrous season have been, from the struggles of Miller and Patrick Corbin to the injuries of Pollock and others, the idea that their lack of depth or their outfield defense might prove costly was not hard to see coming. If the club expects its pitching staff to bounce back next year, these should be front-burner issues in the offseason.

Reach Piecoro at (602) 444-8680 or nick.piecoro@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickpiecoro.

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (44) waits to place a tag on Los Angeles Dodgers base runner Chris Taylor (3) as Taylor slides into first base at Chase Field on July 17, 2016. Charlie Kaijo/azcentral sports

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Brandon Drury (27) runs into the outfield wall as he tries to catch a fly ball against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field on July 17, 2016. Charlie Kaijo/azcentral sports

Los Angeles Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda (18) walks back to the dugout after being pulled from the game as Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (44) stands with first base coach Dave McKay (39) at Chase Field on July 17, 2016. Charlie Kaijo/azcentral sports

Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb runs through first base as Los Angeles Dodgers' Scott Van Slyke (33) catches the ball for the out at Chase Field on July 17, 2016. Charlie Kaijo/azcentral sports

Arizona Diamondbacks' Jake Lamb (right) congratulates Brandon Drury (center), who had the game-winning hit against the the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field in Phoenix on July 16, 2016. Charlie Kaijo/azcentral sports

July 16, 2016; Phoenix; Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Brandon Drury reacts after teammates douse him after his walkoff single to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 at Chase Field in Phoenix. Matt Kartozian/USA TODAY Sports

July 16, 2016; Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Brandon Drury is doused with cold energy drink by teammates after hitting a walkoff single to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 at Chase Field in Phoenix. Matt Kartozian/USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Diamondbacks base runner Nick Ahmed (13) makes a run for second base as Los Angeles Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez (23) tosses the ball to a teammate at Chase Field on July 16, 2016. Charlie Kaijo/azcentral sports

July 15, 2016; Phoenix; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Chris Taylor (3) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a grand slam home run during the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix. Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports

July 15, 2016; Phoenix; Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (44) celebrates with center fielder Michael Bourn (1) after hitting a two run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning at Chase Field in Phoenix. Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports

July 15, 2016; Phoenix; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) and fans reach for a home run ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Jean Segura (not pictured) during the seventh inning at Chase Field in Phoenix. Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports

July 15, 2016; Phoenix; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb (22) misplays a ground ball against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning at Chase Field in Phoenix. Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports

July 15, 2016; Phoenix; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb (22) is unable to make a leaping catch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning at Chase Field. Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports

July 15, 2016; Phoenix; Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Chris Taylor (3) throws to first base to complete a double play after forcing out Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Chris Herrmann (10) at second base during the second inning at Chase Field. Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports

July 15, 2016; Phoenix; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner (10) spits water in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports

July 15, 2016; Phoenix; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner (10) celebrates with first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (23) after hitting a solo home run in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports

Godley will be recalled from Triple-A Reno to make his third big league start this year. … He was sharp in his most recent start for Reno, going seven innings and giving up just one run vs. Oklahoma City. His most recent major league outing was not as good; he gave up four runs in five innings against the Padres on July 5. … Sanchez had a tremendous first half and was named to the American League All-Star team. … He hasn’t lost since April 22 vs. Oakland. … The Blue Jays as a team are 11-7 in his starts. … He features a fastball that averages 94.7 mph along with a curveball and a change-up, according to FanGraphs data.

Up next

Toronto Blue Jays

Blue Jays update: The Blue Jays have gone 12-8 since they last faced the Diamondbacks in June, when the two clubs split a two-game series at Rogers Centre. During that stretch, Blue Jays hitters have posted an .809 OPS, with 3B Josh Donaldson (1.171), 1B Edwin Encarnacion (1.003) and SS Troy Tulowitzki (.900) hitting well during that stretch. The Diamondbacks will not face RHP Marco Estrada, who is on the disabled list with a back injury. He leads the Blue Jays rotation with a 2.93 ERA. RHP Roberto Osuna is 19 for 21 in save chances with a 2.16 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings.